We can all use a little less paper cluttering up our file cabinets and desk drawers, and we've frequently suggested using document management systems like Evernote or OfficeDrop to scan your reciepts and keep them safe, backed up, and online whenever you need them. Unfortunately, the blog Five Cent Nickel brings up an important point to remember: some stores—or specifically disgruntled employees—will refuse to accept photocopies of original recipts.

Luckily, Nickel, the author of Five Cent Nickel, had an original photo of the receipt on his phone and the cashier relented and accepted the return, but it does bring an important point to light that if you're going to use a service to digitize and store all of your receipts, you may want to hold on to the original for a while just in case. How long is up to you and depends on the magnitude of your purchase, but at the very least you may want to try and match up with the retailer's return policy.

You can avoid some of this hassle by checking with the retailer to make sure that they'll accept photocopies or scanned copies on your phone when you make your purchase. Even so, before you toss out that freshly digitized receipt, make sure you really won't need the original copy, and try not to toss it out the same day you make the purchase.